Google Maps Spotcrime.com Mashup

This is the real deal: Manhattan crime committed in New York, NY and depicted over a two month period from April 2008 to the end of May, 2008.

Spotcrime.com claims it's the most comprehensive online source of crime information. The site is probably right. They offer local maps, crime reports, crime classifications, and real-time interactive maps.

Soon you'll be able to find the exact location of the Manhasset High School lockdown as reported by News 12 Long Island, where two students were found at the Manhasset high school carrying firearms.

Spotcrime.com is a Google Maps mashup. Sure Google I/O and 3D apps have drawn all the media attention lately. We thought it would be worthwhile to keep our readers safe in this dangerous world.

You have your choice of crime alerts if you're interested in a particular illegal act, or if you need to brush up on definitions of illegal acts, Crimespot.com offers a handy index of crimes:

SpotCrime.com Crime Classifications

* Theft - The act in which property belonging to another is taken without that person's consent.

* Burglary - The criminal offense of breaking and entering a building illegally for the purpose of committing a crime in that building.

* Robbery - Using force or intimidation to take property away from another person in the presence of that person.

* Assault - A physical attempt or threat to use violence with the intent to do harm to another.

* Arson - The crime of intentionally setting fire to a building or property of another or the burning of one's own property to collect insurance.

* Shooting - The act of firing a weapon in order to hit, wound, or kill someone or something.

* Vandalism - The intentional destruction of or damage to the property of another.

* Arrest - The seizure of an alleged or suspected offender to answer for a crime.

Plus, you can drill down to see the details of the crime. Oh look, here's one that occurred uptown just from last week:

Shooting - 126th St and Lenox Ave, New York, NY 2008-05-26

EMS command is reporting 10 people shot in total. During this situation multiple foot pursuits, random gunfire, and a RMP MVA took place. Several large pockets of crowds are within the confines this large scene. Ems command has given a general summarization describing the victims as either yellow or green tag patients.

Of course, if you're a criminal it doesn't hurt to know what neighborhoods have been overfished by your fellow criminal element. It's all here for you at Crimespot.com, with new service available on the iPhone.

About the author

Kevin Heisler, formerly the executive editor of Search Engine Watch, is a search and advertising industry veteran. His former roles include VP, strategic accounts for integrated digital marketing firm 360i; director of business development for Didit Search Marketing; and search industry analyst at Jupiter Research.